Women Empowerment: Social and national profit

Women in the society have remained under the veils of culture for a longer than they should . They have been agreed or they have been forced to agree to remain has such. But it is high time they understand their true value and potential. To bring out the change they want first they must be the change. 

The topic of women empowerment is possibly one of the most controversial one because it is often misunderstood by both men and women. India is famous for having patriarchal society where women have been denied their rights since the ancient times. And they have deliberately agreed to this submission. Even in this generation the passive agents of patriarchy are also women. 

Women empowerment refers to the creation of an environment where they can make their decisions and have the freedom to do it without having any fear of judgement. It refers to increasing and improving the social, economic, political and legal strength to the women and to make sure they live as 

• Freely live their lives with the sense of self-worth, dignity and respect. 
• Have complete control of their lives both within their home and outside. 
• To make their own choice and decision.
• Have equal rights to participate in social and public activities 
• Have equal social status in the society. 
• Equal right for social justice 
• Economic and financial choices determination. 
• Equal right in work place and right to education. 
• Right to choose the spouse. 

Improving education for women helps raise their levels of health and nutrition , and self confidence. It enables them to find a job, engage in public activities such as debates and make demands to the Government. In short education empowers women to make choices that improve their own standard of the family. Women these days have started realising their importance of themselves and are already take a step ahead for example from grass root level to the highest top. In rural settings large number of Self Help Groups can be seen. Apart from them ASHA workers ICDS workers GNMs ANMs are the areas where women are solely required.

The barriers to women empowerment are mainly cultural and social norms that prevent them to take adequate measurement for their development. Many women feel these pressures while others become accustomed to being treated inferior to men. Apart from this, gender discrimination, harassment (physical, mental & psychological) and violence are major barriers. According to ILO 52% of women have received some form of sexual violence.

In different stages of 5 year plans many schemes have been taken up for the purpose of women empowerment and development such as, 

• Beti bachao beti padhao. 
• One stop centre scheme. 
• UJJAWALA : for prevention of trafficking and rescue and rehabilitation. 
• Working women hostel. 
• Swadhar Greh 
• Nari shakti purashkar etc 

Women empowerment isn’t something that can be given to a person but it is them who have to realise their self worth and importance. Even with all the facilities provided a woman can be withheld from being independent. The goal is to bring change in the mentality of the victims and to make them realise that they should seek their rights. Because an educated boy will take care of a family, educated girls brings change to the nation. One of the major and most empowering things in recent days has to be the abolition of teen-talak. It is not only disgraceful but also inhuman. This ritual has been going on for hundreds of years and women have finally raiser their voice against it this marks as a historical change in the history of development and empowerment of women.